She started her period last year and has only had 3 periods since she started. Periods she has had were spotty not full flow, & now her legs, ankles, & feet are swollen. Looks to me like water retention. Could this all be connected somehow?
Take her to a doctor asap.
It could be a kidney issue and if it is, it needs medical attention right away.
Call her pediatrician. I never heard of this happening to a 13 yo.
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this is your daughter? I ask because your profile states you are 27 years old and if you have a 13 year old - you were REALLY young when you had her.
Do her feet and legs STAY swollen or is this just happening? You really aren't giving much information here. It doesn't matter, she need to be seen by a DOCTOR.
You said you were in the nursing field?? If so, then you should know that swelling in the extremities, is something that NEEDS to be seen by a physician. It could be a kidney disease. It could be MANY things. Either way - a DOCTOR needs to check her out.
What does her doctor say?
Really, how would we know what caused this? In my experience water retention does not cause the whole leg, ankle and feet to swell. Does she have signs of water retention any other place? I urge you to at least call the advice nurse.
How swollen are they? I used to retain a lot of water in my teens and early 20's. It did seem to be hormone related. Actually, I've heard that if you drink more water, it helps to lessen water retention...seems counter-intuitive but it may help. Also, when I was a teenager, I found that swimming helped reduce water retention. Actually, most exercise does. If you can get her to eat some cucumbers...that helps too.
a dr needs to see her and figure this out. it could be period related but theres so much other stuff that could be going on. take her to the dr.
Take photos, keep a journal of her cycle, and keep a food journal. Is she physically active? Does she eat healthy foods or lots of salty fast foods and sodas, etc.? Start keeping a record, and get her to an endocrinologist.
Nope. Sounds more like a circulation problem where fluids are pooling in her legs, ankles,and feet which could be something minor (hot weather) or something major (heart related). I'd probably make an appointment with her doctor sooner than later and get it checked out.
This child needs to be seen by a doctor. What may look like water retention to you could be a heart problem or kidney problem.
Has she drank a lot of water? Taken in a lot of salt? Are they red? Or just swollen?
Call her pediatrician. Get her seen today.
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Is she taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) for anything, such as athletic injuries or headaches? Those are frequently involved in swelling. Same with some prescription pain relievers.
Is this a friend, sister, cousin? I see you are 27 so probably this is not your child. Stepchild, perhaps? Since you recently became a SAHM, it's hard to tell. If it's not someone for whom you can make decisions, urge whoever that is to stop any medications (over-the-counter) and see if it goes away or at least reduces within 8 hours. Make a note of what medications were involved. And elevate the legs.
If it doesn't resolve quickly, or if there are any other symptoms you haven't mentioned (such as pain in the legs), I'd take the child in to the pediatrician. While something like heart trouble is unlikely in a child, leg swelling can come from that.
A phone call to the doctor is always free, and pediatricians run a 24/7 call-in line. If this is not your child though, they won't be able to give info directly to you.
Take her to her pediatrician... could be a number of things, several that could be serious. Make an apt today!
I have a friend whose SIL had similar swelling, and it turned out that she had a tumor in her abdominal cavity. They didn't find out until it burst, and she was found dead, because she absolutely refused to seek medical help.
Now, I'm not saying that to suggest that this is what is going on here. The point is, the 13 year old needs to see a doctor. Don't guess about it. Get a medical consult/opinion and diagnosis so proper treatment can be implemented. No guessing.
When I've bloated from PMS, it was in my abdomen area. Never legs.
I'd get her in.
